Montana, 2010Blizzard and Winter Storm in Montana, January 5 to 6, 2010
January 5 to 6, 2010 · NWS GGW · 13 events in 13 counties and zones
A Pacific storm system moved west to east through the region with an area of heavy snow occurring in portions of northeast Montana. Blizzard conditions occurred over the east-central portion of eastern Montana.
Every event with a place to put it; 13 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.
- Tornadoes
- Tropical storms and surge
- Floods
- Wind
- Hail
- Winter weather
- Heat and drought
- Cold
- Fire, smoke and dust
- Marine and coastal
- Other
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- Deaths
- 0
- Injuries
- 0
- Property damage
- None recorded
- Crop damage
- None recorded
- Events
- 13
Deaths and injuries are direct and indirect together, as the offices filed them. Damage is property and crops in the dollars of the year, not adjusted for inflation, and only where an office estimated it.
A Pacific storm system moved west to east through the region with an area of heavy snow occurring in portions of northeast Montana. Blizzard conditions occurred over the east-central portion of eastern Montana.
Winter Storm, Central and Se Phillips
- When
- January 5, 6:00 AM MST to January 6, 1:00 AM MST
- Where
- Central and Se Phillips forecast zone
- Reported by
- Trained Spotter
- Coordinates
- 48.259, -107.913 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Spotter reported 6 of snowfall in Malta with blowing and drifting snow.
Winter Storm, Petroleum
- When
- January 5, 6:00 AM MST to January 6, 1:00 AM MST
- Where
- Petroleum forecast zone
- Reported by
- Trained Spotter
- Coordinates
- 47.118, -108.250 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Spotters reported 6 inches of snowfall along with blowing and drifting snow reducing visibilities to a half mile at times.
Winter Storm, Garfield
- When
- January 5, 6:00 AM MST to January 6, 3:00 AM MST
- Where
- Garfield forecast zone
- Reported by
- COOP Observer
- Coordinates
- 47.278, -106.993 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Snowfall of 7.2 inches was reported 4 ENE of Mosby.
Winter Storm, Northern Valley
- When
- January 5, 8:00 AM MST to January 6, 3:00 AM MST
- Where
- Northern Valley forecast zone
- Reported by
- Trained Spotter
- Coordinates
- 48.365, -106.667 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Spotters measured six inches at 6 miles WNW of Larslen and 5 miles NW of Larslen.
Winter Storm, Central and Southern Valley
- When
- January 5, 8:00 AM MST to January 6, 3:00 AM MST
- Where
- Central and Southern Valley forecast zone
- Reported by
- NWS Employee
- Coordinates
- 48.365, -106.667 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Snowfall of 5 to 7 inches were observed across the zone. Drifts of up to 5 feet were reported 4 SW of Hinsdale.
Winter Storm, Daniels
- When
- January 5, 10:00 AM MST to January 6, 7:00 AM MST
- Where
- Daniels forecast zone
- Reported by
- Trained Spotter
- Coordinates
- 48.784, -105.549 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Reports of 5.5 (1ENE Scobey) to 7.5 inches (in Scobey) were observed with this storm. Drifting snow also was observed.
Winter Storm, Western Roosevelt
- When
- January 5, 10:00 AM MST to January 6, 7:00 AM MST
- Where
- Western Roosevelt forecast zone
- Reported by
- Trained Spotter
- Coordinates
- 48.295, -105.016 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Snowfall reports of six inches were common along with blowing and drifting snow.
Winter Storm, McCone
- When
- January 5, 10:00 AM MST to January 6, 11:00 AM MST
- Where
- McCone forecast zone
- Reported by
- Trained Spotter
- Coordinates
- 47.645, -105.795 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Spotter one mile north of Flowing Wells Rest Area reported six inches of snowfall with four foot drifts.
Winter Storm, Prairie
- When
- January 5, 10:00 AM MST to January 6, 11:00 AM MST
- Where
- Prairie forecast zone
- Reported by
- Trained Spotter
- Coordinates
- 46.861, -105.378 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Spotter reported six inches of snowfall. Spotter 21 NNW of Terry reported drifts up 5 feet deep.
Winter Storm, Sheridan
- When
- January 5, 11:00 AM MST to January 6, 7:00 AM MST
- Where
- Sheridan forecast zone
- Reported by
- Trained Spotter
- Coordinates
- 48.721, -104.505 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Six to eight inches were reported across the county. Spotter six miles west of Reserve reported eight inches.
Winter Storm, Eastern Roosevelt
- When
- January 5, 11:00 AM MST to January 6, 7:00 AM MST
- Where
- Eastern Roosevelt forecast zone
- Reported by
- Trained Spotter
- Coordinates
- 48.295, -105.016 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Spotters reported six to seven inches of snowfall.
Winter Storm, Richland
- When
- January 5, 11:00 AM MST to January 6, 11:00 AM MST
- Where
- Richland forecast zone
- Reported by
- Trained Spotter
- Coordinates
- 47.788, -104.561 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Spotters reported six to seven inches across the zone with drifts up to 3 feet deep.
Blizzard, Wibaux
- When
- January 5, 11:00 AM MST to January 6, 11:00 AM MST
- Where
- Wibaux forecast zone
- Reported by
- Trained Spotter
- Coordinates
- 46.965, -104.249 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Spotter 23 S of Wibaux reported seven inches of snowfall along with blizzard conditions. Blizzard conditions resulted in drifts up to seven feet deep. State highway 7 had to be closed from Wibaux to Baker.
- Winter Storm
- A storm that brought snow, sleet or freezing rain at warning levels, usually over several hours or days.
- Blizzard
- Sustained winds or frequent gusts of 35 mph or more with falling or blowing snow that cuts visibility below a quarter mile for three hours or longer.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
- Flood in Idaho, January 5 to 6, 2010$89,000 · 1 event
- Winter Storm and Winter Weather in North Dakota, January 5 to 7, 201036 events
- Winter Storm in South Dakota, January 5 to 6, 201016 events
- Winter Storm in Wyoming, January 5 to 6, 20103 events
- Winter Storm and Winter Weather in Colorado, January 5 to 7, 20103 events
- Heavy Snow in West Virginia, January 5 to 6, 20102 events
- Heavy Snow in Maryland, January 5 to 6, 20101 event
- Heavy Snow in Pennsylvania, January 5 to 6, 20101 event
NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, compiled from the National Weather Service’s monthly Storm Data. Complete through 2026-06; NCEI adds each month about 75 days after it ends and revises past years a few times a year. Rebuilt 2026-10-01. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 206523, 206544, 206551, 206520, 206527, 206518, 206533, 206557, 206562, 203105, 206542, 206565, 206586.